Tramp & Trail

It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good; while the fringes of two hurricanes caused untold hardship and flooding for many people in the northeast they had the salutary effect of raising the level of the West Branch to an unprecidented height.

Three beaver dams that usually get in the way were nowhere to be seen, and the high water allowed us to plow through a log jam that had frustrated kayakers earlier in the summer.  An added bonus was our ability to explore Chub Pond, usually blocked off by mud and vegetation.  Here we witnessed blossoms of hundreds of pitcher plants, and viewed many unripe cranberries submerged in the clear water.

A harbinger of autumn, red maples growing on the low banks had already turned to scarlet and orange, in beautiful contrast to the green of towering white pines.  Usually the entrance to Trout Lake is difficult to find but today the whole lake opened up to us as we rounded a bend.  We landed at a campsite on the west shore for lunch and then, because of some ominous dark clouds, decided to continue on down stream without exploring Little Trout Lake.

Even riding a steady current, 9.2 miles is a long way to paddle, and our shoulders were starting to ache when we finally spotted our shuttle cars parked high above on the roadway near Shaker Place.  Pulling the kayaks up that steep bank is always a chore, but a rope and many hands made the job a bit easier.  It would be nice if the State could cut some steps into that bank to provide easier footing.  After getting the boats back on the car, some of us retired to Nancy Coleman’s camp on Pleasant Lake for a picnic lunch.  Thanks to Nancy for her hospitality.

By:  Harold Pier